New pyrometer for aluminium industry

Louise Davis

AMETEK Land has developed a new pyrometer that provides high accuracy and a three-in-one capability specifically for aluminium applications, including extrusion press exit, extrusion press quench zone, and aluminium strip mills.

The SPOT AL EQS (SPOT Aluminium Extrusion, Quench and Strip) pyrometer is an extremely flexible instrument with pre-configured algorithms that make it especially suitable for use at the extruder press exit and quench position as well as at mill entry and exit positions in hot rolling mills.  In addition, the pyrometer’s algorithms can be customised and tuned for bespoke applications and specific aluminium grades.

This latest addition to the LAND range of SPOT pyrometers was specifically designed to work in low emissivity environments where regular pyrometers might struggle to provide accurate and reliable readings. It has the ability to measure a wide temperature range from 200˚ to 700°C / 392˚ to 1292°F.  Utilising the latest, cutting-edge temperature detector design in combination with the most-advanced data processing algorithms, Land has created an extremely accurate and repeatable pyrometer with an industry-leading response time.

Incorporating the latest digital communication capabilities, the SPOT AL EQS can be configured remotely through a dedicated webserver and with Power over Ethernet (POE) capabilities is able to communicate data over Ethernet through a variety of different protocols (TCP-IP, Modbus TCP, DHCP, http, udp and ICMP). This further ensures that, along with the traditional 4-20mA/0-20mA output signal, the SPOT AL EQS can be easily integrated into any plant control infrastructure.

SPOT AL EQS works straight out of the box and can be installed by just a single person, offering greater convenience and ease of use. If the sensor is in an inaccessible location, SPOT AL EQS has a remote viewing capability to verify alignment and ensure a high level of accuracy. A built-in camera aids alignment, which, combined with a green LED, allows the user to position the measurement point in an optimal location to avoid ambient lighting reflections. Data from the SPOT AL EQS is available remotely as snapshots using free SPOT Viewer software or standard web browsers.

SPOT pyrometers are designed for high accuracy, high reliability, simple installation, configuration and flexible digital communications.  They can be easily interchanged with other AMETEK Land pyrometers and other manufacturers’ equipment.  All processing functions are integrated into a single pyrometer, making them suitable for use in all sized plants.

Designed in close collaboration with industry-leading aluminium producers and plant control system engineers, the SPOT AL EQS pyrometer is helping lead the way in improving aluminium extrusion and strip plant throughput, quality and energy efficiency. This latest AMETEK Land temperature measurement instrument already has demonstrated its ability to provide immediate data for process improvement.

Recent Issues